He will announce his decision today at 4 p.m. at the Canton High library.

"It's between Mississippi State and Ole Miss," he said. "It'll be a relief. I always knew that I pretty much wanted to shut all the recruiting down before my senior season starts. That way all I will have to worry about is school and football."

Bouldin is the first Dandy Dozen football player from Canton, a city known more for its success in basketball. The school has produced four boys basketball Dandy Dozen players - Joseph Fleming ('92), Alonzo Lane ('97 and '98), Hilton Tomkins ('01) and Ken Black ('06) - and one girls basketball Dandy (LaCourtney Ratliff in 2001, 2002).

"It feels good to be the first because making it was one of the goals I had for the season," said Bouldin, who is working at In His Steps Ministries in Canton this summer. "I was biting my fingernails a little bit waiting."

Patience has never been a strong suit for Bouldin. As a freshman, he pleaded with Brown to put him in the game.

"He kept standing behind me, worrying me, and I said, 'Naw, man you're just a freshman,'" recalled Brown. "One day I finally just went on and put him out there, and he's been out there ever since."

Brown says Bouldin is just as solid off the field.

"He's a big friendly kid who keeps that big smile on his face all the time," said Brown. "His biggest trait is his personality. He's a nice guy, but he's mean on that field."